U.S. patent number 7,145,515 [Application Number 10/944,659] was granted by the patent office on 2006-12-05 for antenna beam controlling system for cellular communication.
Invention is credited to Duk-Yong Kim.
United States Patent |
7,145,515 |
Kim |
December 5, 2006 |
Antenna beam controlling system for cellular communication
Abstract
An antenna beam controlling system (ABCS) for use in cellular
communication systems. The ABCS allows the antenna's horizontal
beam direction and horizontal beam width to be remotely adjusted
for optimum reception and transmission. The ABCS, in its basic
design, is comprised of at least one antenna reflector that
incorporates a reflecting disk for receiving and transmitting RF
signals, an antenna rotating assembly, and an electronic
controller. All the elements of the ABCS are housed within an
antenna enclosure, such as a radome, which is maintained in an
environmentally shielded condition by a top and bottom cover. The
electronic controller is designed to remotely activate the ABCS and
to control and optimize the position of the antenna reflector.
Inventors: |
Kim; Duk-Yong (Yongin City
Kyungki-do 449-901, KR) |
Family
ID: |
34864466 |
Appl.
No.: |
10/944,659 |
Filed: |
September 20, 2004 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
|
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60534350 |
Jan 2, 2004 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
343/766; 343/882;
343/757; 343/726 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H01Q
1/246 (20130101); H01Q 3/20 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
H01Q
3/00 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;343/766 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Ho; Binh Van
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Cota; Albert O.
Parent Case Text
This patent application claims priority of Provisional Patent
Application No. 60/534,350 filed Jan. 2, 2004.
Claims
The invention claimed is:
1. An antenna beam controlling system for cellular communication
comprising a rotating reflector assembly having: a) an antenna
enclosure having a top cover and a bottom cover, b) an antenna
reflector having an upper surface and a lower surface, disposed
within said antenna enclosure, c) a top hub intimately engaging the
upper surface of said antenna reflector, said top hub having a
first bearing pressed onto said top hub, with the first bearing
interfacing with the top cover of said antenna enclosure, d) a
bottom hub intimately engaging the lower surface of said antenna
reflector, said bottom hub having an integral lower shaft
distending beneath said bottom hub and a second bearing that
interfaces with the lower shaft, e) a hollow offset mounting
adapter having a top and a bottom with the top interfacing with the
second bearing and the bottom engaging the bottom cover of said
antenna enclosure, f) a geared motor attached to the bottom cover
of said antenna enclosure, said geared motor having an output gear,
g) a speed reducing gear that meshes with the output gear such that
the antenna reflector rotates in the direction dictated by said
geared motor to control the horizontal azimuth angle and horizontal
beam width of said antenna reflector, and h) an electronic
controller that controls the actuation of said geared motor in
accordance with externally applied control signals.
2. The antenna beam controlling system for cellular communication
as specified in claim 1 further comprising at least two rotating
antenna reflectors that are mounted on a common base for a
two-sector application.
3. The antenna beam controlling system for cellular communication
as specified in claim 1 further comprising at least three rotating
antenna reflectors that are mounted on a common base for a
three-sector application.
4. The antenna beam controlling system for cellular communication
as specified in claim 3 wherein each said rotating reflector can be
operated individually to control the horizontal azimuth angle and
the horizontal beam width.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
The invention pertains generally to antenna control systems, and
more particularly to an antenna beam controlling system for use in
a cellular communication network. The inventive system remotely
adjusts the antennas horizontal azimuth angle and the horizontal
beam width to compensate for changes in the surrounding
environment.
BACKGROUND ART
Currently wireless cell phones are used throughout the world and
their use is rapidly expanding. Cell phones operate in combination
with antenna cell sites that are positioned throughout a reception
area to provide optimum coverage. When designing a cell site for a
wireless cell communication system, the physical position and the
pointing direction of a cell antenna is an important parameter in
defining the cell site coverage. Therefore, many cell antennas are
installed on top of buildings or on towers to extend the cell site
coverage area. To install cell antennas in an outdoor environment,
the antennas are mounted on top of a supporting pole installed at
each cell site. To install cell antennas in an indoor environment,
the antennas are mounted on a wall or ceiling. In both cases,
clamping tools are used to secure the placement of the
antennas.
Antenna clamping tools are used to firmly install the cell antennas
on a wall or an existing structure. Installation or adjustment of
antennas is not only very dangerous for technicians, as it requires
the technicians to climb up to a tall tower or onto a roof and to
use both hands for a long period of time, but is also very tedious,
which is costly because the technicians have to repeat many of the
same procedures over and over again when adjusting the antenna for
optimum reception.
A typical prior art antenna beam controlling assembly is shown in
FIGURE A and is comprised of five major elements: a cell antenna
10, an antenna mounting pole 18, an upper articulated mounting
bracket 30, an upper clamp 24 and a lower clamp 26. The cell
antenna 10 has internal reflectors (not shown) for sending and
receiving RF signals and includes an upper end 12 and a lower end
14. The mounting pole 18 has an upper end 20 and a lower end 22. To
the pole's upper end 20 is attached an upper clamp 24, and to the
pole's lower end 22 is attached a lower clamp 26. The upper
articulated mounting bracket 30 has an outer end 32 and an inner
end 34. The outer end 32 is attached to the upper end 12 of the
antenna 10, and the inner end 34 is attached, via the upper clamp
24, to the upper end 20 of the mounting pole 18, as shown in FIGURE
A. The lower end 14 of the antenna 10 is attached via a lower clamp
26 to the lower end 14 of the antenna 10.
The installation procedure of the prior art antenna beam
controlling assembly is comprised of the following steps: first,
loosen a pair of nuts located on the upper clamp 24 and the lower
clamp 26, which widens the space of the two clamps.
Second, adjust the lower clamp 26 to support the pole 18 and
control the direction angle by rotating the antenna 10 along a
known direction of an electromagnetic wave corresponding to a cell
sector.
Third, loosen a pair of bolts located on the articulated mounting
bracket 30 and move along the folding or the unfolding direction of
the articulated mounting bracket 30 to adjust the antenna's
downward tilt angle. After adjusting the downward tilt angle,
tighten the pair of bolts to secure the antenna. The amount of
downward tilt required for the antenna 10 is determined by reading
a notch mark 36 on an angle indicator 38 located on a side of the
articulated mounting bracket 30.
There has recently been a demand to change the direction of
cellular antenna beams, due to changes of the topography around a
cell site or the degradation of call quality in dense traffic
areas. In addition, because there is usually another cell site
closely situated, the interference level with other cell sites
should be considered when deciding the location of a cell site. In
other words, the different conditions of all cell sites should be
taken into consideration. In particular, with respect to the
horizontal azimuth angle (i.e., horizontal steering), the
electrical horizontal beam steering, which controls the phase of
signals transmitted to radiating elements, would change the
direction of the beam. As a result, scan loss would occur and the
sidelobes would be increased. Therefore, in case of horizontal
steering, it would be effective to mechanically control the
direction of the beam by rotating the antenna itself either to the
right or left. In case of electrical control, the antenna must
consist of at least two columns of a radiating-element-array.
However, there have been some negative issues such as increased
width/size of the antenna, increased design complexity, increased
weight of the antenna, or an increase in manufacturing costs of the
antenna products.
With the existing wireless communication cell site antenna system
discussed above, it is difficult to change the direction of the
antenna beam frequently because a person needs to manually adjust
the antenna and therefore there is always a danger of an
accident.
Recently, clamping systems have also been installed on the outside
of the antenna and thus combined with the supporting mounting pole.
This type of installation requires a larger space for the antenna
system and does not offer a zoning friendly appearance. Vertical
down-tilting, which comprises electric down-tilting by means of a
phase-shifter, could maintain the shape of horizontal beams, and
mechanical down-tilting could control the center part of the
horizontal beams but could not effectively control the side parts
of the horizontal beam shape. Therefore, electrical down-tilting is
more effective.
The instant invention solves and/or eliminates many of the problems
discussed above that are inherent in the prior art.
A search of the prior art patents and industry literature did not
disclose an antenna beam controlling system that read on the claims
of the instant application.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
The antenna beam controlling system (ABCS) as disclosed herein is
designed to be used for cellular communication networks. The ABCS
is designed to remotely control the azmuth angle and the horizontal
beam width of an antenna. In its basic design configuration the
ABCS consists of the following elements: An antenna enclosure
having a top cover and a bottom cover, At least one rotatable
antenna reflector disposed within the antenna enclosure and having
an upper surface and a lower surface, disposed within the radome,
At least one hub interfacing with the at least one antenna
reflector, At least one geared motor attached to at least one hub
such that the antenna reflector rotates in a direction required to
change the horizontal azimuth angle and the horizontal beam width
of the antenna reflector, An electronic controller for controlling
the activation of the at least one geared motor in accordance with
externally applied control signals.
All of the elements are located inside the antenna enclosure, such
as a radome, which is environmentally shielded by the top and
bottom covers.
The rotating system controls the horizontal azimuth angles of the
antenna beam by rotating about the center of the antenna reflector.
The rotating system can also control the horizontal azimuth angles
of the antenna beams by rotating on an upstanding pole, which is
located on the back of the antenna reflector. The rotating method
also enables the changes in horizontal azimuth angles of the
antenna beam, horizontal beam width, and beam forming. This is
accomplished by placing two antenna reflectors in a linear
position, by rotating the antenna reflectors around the two
linearly positioned antenna reflectors, and by rotating the two
antenna reflectors around the center of each reflector.
In view of the above disclosure the primary object of the ABCS is
to provide an antenna beam control system for use in a cellular
communication network that can remotely control the horizontal
azimuth angle and the horizontal beam width of the antenna beams by
rotating the antenna reflector.
Another object of the invention is to provide an antenna beam
control system for use in a cellular communication network that can
control the horizontal azimuth angles of the antenna beams by
installing a pole on the back of an antenna reflector and by
rotating at least one antenna reflector on the pole.
Another object of the invention is to provide an antenna beam
control system for use in a cellular communication network that can
change horizontal azimuth angles of the antenna beam, horizontal
beam width, and beam forming, by placing two antenna reflectors in
a linear position, rotating the antenna reflectors around the two
linearly positioned antenna reflectors, and by rotating the two
antenna reflectors around the center of each reflector.
Another object of the invention is to provide an antenna beam
control system for use in a cellular communication network that can
reduce the size of the antenna and provide a zoning friendly
appearance by putting all necessary elements into a single antenna
enclosure.
Another object of the invention is to provide an antenna beam
control system for use in a cellular communication network that can
adjust the horizontal beam pointing angle of an antenna by a
mechanical operation and control the horizontal beam pointing angle
remotely through a remote control method.
Another object of the invention is to provide an antenna beam
control system for use in a cellular communication network that can
remotely control the horizontal beam pointing angle of an antenna
by a mechanical operation, achieve horizontal beam steering even
with an antenna having single column radiating elements.
Another object of the invention is to produce a ABCS that is cost
effective from both a manufacturers and consumers point of
view.
These and other objects and advantages of the invention will become
apparent from the subsequent detailed description and the claims
taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a prior art antenna beam
controlling assembly for cellular communication.
FIG. 1B is a side elevational exploded view of a first design for
an antenna beam controlling system (ABCS) for cellular
communication.
FIG. 2 is an elevational side and cross-sectional view of the
system shown in the first ABCS design.
FIG. 3 is a top-plan view of the first ABCS design.
FIG. 4 is a top-plan view of the first ABCS design having three
internal antennas enclosed within a single antenna enclosure.
FIG. 5 is an elevational side and cross-sectional view of a second
ABCS design.
FIG. 6 is a top-plan view of the system shown in FIG. 5.
FIG. 7 is a top-plan view of the gear mechanism included in FIG.
5.
FIG. 8 is a top-plan view of the antenna mounting bracket used in
FIG. 5.
FIG. 9 is a top-plan view showing three antennas located inside the
antenna enclosure.
FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of a third ABCS design.
FIG. 11 is a top-plan view of the system shown in FIG. 10.
FIG. 12 is a top-plan view of the two antenna's reflectors shown in
FIG. 11 at relatively rotated angles.
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
The best mode for carrying out the invention is presented is
presented in terms of a preferred embodiment for an antenna beam
controlling system (ABCS) for cellular communication. The preferred
embodiment of the ABCS is disclosed in three design configurations:
the first design is shown in FIGS. 1B 4, the second design in FIGS.
5 9, and the third design in FIGS. 10 12.
The first design configuration of the ABCS, as shown in FIGS. 1B 4,
is comprised of a rotating reflecting assembly 100 that further
consists of eight major elements: an antenna enclosure 181, an
antenna reflector 151, a top hub 131, a bottom hub 132, a hollow
offset mounting adapter 111, a speed reducing gear 142, a geared
motor 161 and an electronic controller 171. The elements of the
first design are shown in an exploded view in FIG. 1B and connected
in FIG. 2.
As shown best in FIG. 1B, the antenna enclosure 181, which
preferably consists of an antenna radome, includes a top cover 101
and a bottom cover 102. Disposed within the antenna enclosure 181
are the major elements that comprise the rotating reflecting
assembly 100.
The antenna reflector 151, is shown in a side view in FIG. 2, and
in a top plan view in FIG. 3, has an upper surface, a lower surface
and is disposed between the top hub 131 and the bottom hub 132. The
top hub 131 engages the upper surface of the antenna reflector, and
includes a first bearing 121 that is press-fitted onto the top hub
131. The first bearing 121 interfaces with the top cover 101 of the
antenna enclosure 181, and the bottom hub 132 engages the lower
surface of the antenna reflector 151. The bottom hub 132 has an
integral lower shaft 130 distending beneath the bottom hub 132 and
a second bearing 122 that interfaces with the lower shaft 130.
The hollow offset mounting adapter 111 has a top and a bottom, with
the top interfacing with the second bearing 122, and the bottom
interfacing with the bottom cover 102 of the antenna enclosure 181.
A speed reducing gear 142 is attached to the lower shaft 130 that
is integral with the bottom hub 132. The lower shaft 130 is
attached to the speed reducing gear 142 that is housed within the
offset mounting adapter 111.
The geared motor 161 is attached to the bottom cover 102 of the
antenna enclosure 181 and has attached an output gear 141 that
meshes with the speed reducing gear 142. The speed reducing gear
142 rotates the antenna reflector in the direction dictated by the
geared motor 161 to control the horizontal azimuth angle and the
horizontal beam width of the antenna reflector 151. The direction
and control of the geared motor 161 is provided by the electronic
controller 171, which in turn is controlled by externally applied
control signals. The externally applied control signals can be
applied from a portable equipment or from a central control
station.
The signals selected for transmission by the electronic controller
171 are dependent upon the cell antenna location. In order to
provide an optimum cell location the cell-site location environment
must be considered. These considerations include: the number and
type of buildings located near the cell-site, the pattern and
strength of the transmitted signal and the number of cell calls
anticipated.
The first design of the ABCS, as shown in FIG. 4, can be further
comprised of at least three rotating reflectors. The three
reflectors in this design are mounted on a common base.
The second design configuration of the ABCS, as shown in FIGS. 5 9,
is comprised of a rotating reflecting assembly 100 that further
consists of nine major elements: an antenna enclosure 281, a
support mounting pole 211, a plurality of sleeves 231,232,233, a
plurality of bearings 221,222,223, a set of antenna mounting
brackets 291,292, an antenna reflector 251, a bottom hub 242, a
geared motor 261 and an electronic controller 271.
As shown best in FIG. 5, the antenna enclosure 81, which preferably
consists of an antenna radome, includes a top cover 201 and a
bottom cover 202. Disposed within the antenna enclosure 281 are the
major elements that comprise the rotating reflecting assembly
100.
The support mounting pole 211, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, is
dimensioned to penetrate through the top cover 201 and the bottom
cover 202 of the antenna enclosure 281. Disposed around the support
mounting pole is a plurality of sleeves consisting of an upper
sleeve 231, a middle sleeve 232 and a lower sleeve 233. Pressed
onto the inner race of the sleeves 231,232,233 is respectfully an
upper bearing 221, a middle bearing 222 and a lower bearing
223.
The set of antenna mounting brackets 291,292 have inner sides that
are attached to the outer race of the first bearing 221 and the
second bearing 222. The outer sides of the antenna mounting
brackets are attached to the antenna reflector 251, as shown in
FIG. 5. The details of the antenna mounting brackets are shown in
FIG. 8.
The bottom hub 242 includes a set of gear teeth 243 that interface
with a lower surface of the antenna reflector 251. The gear teeth
243 are involute and are configured as a planetary gear having a
radial fan shape that is compatible with the gear motor output
gear. Attached to the bottom cover 202 of the antenna enclosure 281
is a geared motor 261. The geared motor 261 has an output gear that
meshes with the set of gear teeth 243 on the bottom hub 242. This
gearing arrangement allows the antenna reflectors to rotate in the
direction dictated by the geared motor 261 to control the
horizontal azimuth angle and the horizontal beam width of the
antenna reflector 251. The direction and control of the geared
motor 261 is provided by the electronic controller 271, which in
turn is controlled by externally applied signals. The externally
applied control signals can be applied from a portable equipment or
from a central control station.
The third design configuration of the ABCS, as shown in FIGS. 10
12, is comprised of a rotating reflecting assembly 100 that further
consists of ten major elements: an antenna enclosure 381, a top
rotating disk 312, at least one top hub 300, a bottom rotating dial
311, at least one bottom hub 326, at least one antenna reflector
351, at least one speed reducing gear 343, at least one geared
motor 362, a disk gear motor 361 and an electronic controller
371.
As shown best in FIG. 10, the antenna enclosure 381 which
preferably consists of an antenna radome, includes a top cover 301
and a bottom cover 302. Disposed within the antenna enclosure 381
are the major elements that comprise the rotating reflecting
assembly 100.
The antenna enclosure 381 includes a top cover 301 and a bottom
cover 302. To the inside surface of the top cover 301 is
revolvingly attached, via a disk bearing 322, a top rotating disk
312. Interfacing with a lower surface of the top rotating disk 312,
via disk bearing 346, is at least one top hub 300. Likewise, to the
inside surface of the bottom cover 302 is revolvingly attached, via
a disk bearing 321 a bottom rotating disk 311. Interfacing with the
upper surface of the bottom rotating disk 311 is at least one
bottom hub 326.
Disposed within the antenna disclosure 381, between at least one
top hub 300 and at least one bottom hub 326 is at least one antenna
reflector 351. As shown in FIGS. 10 12, two antenna reflectors 351
are shown. Attached to the bottom hub 326, as shown in FIG. 10, is
at least one speed reducing gear 343 that allows the antenna
reflector to be rotated at an optimum RPM. The speed reducing gear
349 is drive by at least one geared motor 362 that is attached to
the upper surface of the bottom rotating disk as shown in FIG.
10.
Located on an upper surface of the bottom cover 302 is a disk gear
motor 361 that has an output gear 341 that interfaces with a disk
drive gear 342 located on the bottom rotating disk 311. The
combination of the disk drive motor 361 and the drive gear 342
allows at least one antenna reflector 351 to rotate in a direction
dictated by the geared motor 362 to control the azimuth angle and
the horizontal beam width of the antenna reflector(s) 351. The
direction and control of the geared motor 362 is provided by the
electronic controller 371 which in turn is controlled by externally
applied control signals. The externally applied control signals can
be applied from a portable equipment or from a central control
station.
While the invention has been described in complete detail and
pictorially shown in the accompanying drawings it is not to be
limited to such details, since many changes and modifications may
be made in the invention without departing from the spirit and
scope thereof. For example, the disclosed cylindrical radome can be
replaced with other different shaped radomes. Also, the gears and
motor that provide the rotation torque can be located at various
positions depending on the system design requirements.
Additionally, in lieu of a gear(s) a timing belt(s) can be
utilized. Hence, it is described to cover any and all modifications
and forms which may come within the language and scope of the
appended claims.
* * * * *